Longshore clerks re-file eavesdropping complaint

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's Local 63, Office Clerical Unit, have re-filed a complaint against APM Terminals in Los Angeles for alleged eavesdropping.
A similar complaint made last year by the union was dismissed in December after having been found without merit by the National Labor Relations Board.
The union's new complaint was filed on Jan. 24, stating APMT activated a feature in the terminal's telephone system that could be used to eavesdrop on workers discussing "topics related to ongoing contract negotiations."
Nancy Cleeland, NLRB's director of public affairs, said if a board investigation finds reasonable cause to believe the law was violated, it would issue a complaint and a trial would be held before an administrative law judge.
A strike by OCU members shut down many terminals in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for eight days in November and December. The union leadership and employers reached agreement on new contracts, but rank-and-file members rejected it last week. The two sides are expected to continue talks to negotiate a new contract. - Chris Dupin